In our weekend readings we hear of the "pity," and the concern for our "nourishment, both physically and spiritually," and also we hear of the "Love" that God has for us that is so powerful and firm that nothing on earth can separate us from that Love- nothing -except for our freely made choices.
Our God is a God who is both divinely rational and divinely committed to us - it is as the reading states, an eternal covenant that the Lord will renew with us. A covenant is so much more than an agreement or a contract?both of which can be broken or amended; but His Covenant is the solemn promise of the Word made flesh, the Word that has dwelt among us and has come to us with an everlasting source of compassion, hope, forgiveness and love. His Word is an indwelling of Himself, come to seek us and to save His creatures, leading us to His Truth.
What is it that God desires of us? What is it that might separate us from the Love of God, which is His Grace? The an-swer is both simple and powerfully scary at the same time?it is our response to His constant, unbroken desire to seek us. We are the only ones?by our free will and fee choices?that can separate us from God. After all, Sacred Scripture tells us that and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. (John 6:39).
As we listen to the feeding account of the many with just a few fish and a few loaves of bread, let us look at this Gospel account not as an act of God?s generosity, but rather as His Divine Love being made present in and through us?His disciples. Notice that the disciples do not feed the massive crowds but rather bring what they have (their gifts) and then Christ takes them, breaks them, and blesses them?transforming them (and us) by His power to make His Will accomplished in the world. You have been made a partner, albeit a junior partner, with God to make His plan of salvation come into being. Disciples - go to work!